Chair



G. D. WOOD Oct. 29, 1935.

CHAIR Filed Dec. 14, 1934 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENTorric CHAIR ration of Indiana Application December 14, 1934, Serial No.752,438

1 Claim.

permits comfortable relaxation in conference or dictation, and whichalso permits correct body posture for the occupant whether in working orrelaxed position. '1

Another objectof the invention is to provide a chair of this kind havinga novel connection between the seat and back rest, which permits theoccupant, while seated in the'chair, to move the back rest rearwardlyaway from its-normal position by a force exerted thereon by theoccupants back, the back rest returning to its normal position when suchforce is discontinued.

- A further object of the invention is to provide achair of this kindwhich includes a novel cushioning structure between the seat and backrest, which permits of a rearward swinging movement of the back rest andwhich thereafter restores the same to said normal position.

i The above mentioned objects of the invention as well as others,together with the several advantages thereof, will more fully appear asI proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view "of a chair embodying the preferred form ofmy invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail view in side-elevation of the seat and back rest withthe connecting members therebetwe en.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale through acertain telescopically yieldable link or brace embodied in the chair andwhich will be more fully referred to later.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustratedin the drawing:

5 indicates the .base of an oflice chair and 6 indicates the seat fixedupon the top end of a post 1 that has a swivelling adjustable engagementaxially in the central part of the base.

8 indicates the back rest of the chair, the front 'of the back restpreferably having a vertically curved formation approximating the curveof the lumbar regions of the back of the person to occupy the chair. Asshown herein, the seat and back rest are upholstered and while thisisnot essential, it is preferable.

At each. side of the seat, and spaced laterally bottom thereof, aninwardly extending flange H therefrom, isa substantially upright member9 and on the top end of each member is mounted an arm rest Ill,preferably upholstered. Each member is made as a casting and includes atthe for attachment to the bottom surface of the .5 adjacent side of theseat. Along each bottom corner of each side of the seat, is secured anangle bar 82, with the upright flange E3 of each bar formed with aplurality of openings M in its w front end.

The back rest 8 is disposed between the top ends of a pair of downwardlyand forwardly curved arms I5. A screw it carried by the top end of eacharm is operatively engaged with the. associated side of the back rest toprovide a pivotal connection therefor. Each arm also carries a secondscrew l'l, spaced below the first mentioned one for engagement in thedesired hole in a plate l8 fixed to each side of the back rest. 20 Bymeans of this structure, the back rest may be adjusted into the desiredangular position with respect to the arms ii. In the bottom end of eacharm are spaced openings 99. A bolt 2c is inserted through one of saidholes to be threaded into a hole inthe rear end of the associated flangel3 to provide an adjustable pivotal connection for the arms I5, and backrest 8 with respect to the seat.

Associated with each back rest supporting arm is a yielding telescopicbrace or link 2|, the construction of which is best shown in Fig. 3.

Eachlink includes a tube 22, the top end of which is flattened to forman ear 23 through which a rivet or bolt 26 extends pivotally to connectthe top end of the brace or link, as a whole,

to the associated back rest supporting arm l5 at a point between itsends;

In the bottom end of the tube is secured a bushing 25 through whichslides a rod 26. Preferably the bushing has a threaded engagement in theassociated end of the tube. It is provided with openings 25a to receivea nail or the like, used in turning the bushing as when applying orremoving the same. The bottom end of said rod is formed 5 to provide aneye 21 through which a'bolt 28 is inserted andthen suitably fixed in thedesired hole I4 in the flange IS. The other end of the rod 26 whichextends a considerable distance into the tube, is there threaded toreceive a nut and 59 washer 29. Surrounding that portion of the rodbetween the bushing 25 and nut and washer 29 is an expansive helicalspring 30. It is apparent that by the construction described, the braceor link, as a whole, is extensible and contractible 5g due to therelative longitudinal movement between the tube and rod.

When the link, as a whole, is in position on the chair, it is apparentthat the spring will hold the link in its shortest length or conditionand this will determine the normal position of the back rest withrespect to the seat. This shortest length or condition of said link "orbrace is afforded by the engagement of the eye 21 with the end of thebushing 25. When an occupant is seated in the chair and leans backagainst the back rest. a force is exerted, tending to swing the backrest rearwardly against the action of the spring 30. In thus leaningback against the back rest, the brace or link 2| will tend to elongate,thereby placing the spring under compression.

When the occupant leans forwardly or moves forwar'dlyon theseat, thepressure on the back rest islrleas'e'd. and the'springs 30 tend toexpand and to shorten up the links to return the back rest to its normalposition.

To adjust the position of the back rest, the bolts 20 and 28 areremoved, after which the bolt 20 is reinserted through the desired holel9, into the hole in the rear end of the flange l3. The bolt 28 is thenreplaced in the desired hole I! in the front end of the flange i3. It isapparent that the engagement of the bolts 20 and 28, in the associatedholes mentioned, determines the position ofthe back rest with respect tothe seat. By removing the bolts l1 and'swinging the back rest 8 into thedesired angular position, with respect to the arms l5, and thenreplacing the bolts in the corresponding hole in the plates l8, the backrest and seat may be relatively adjusted to fit any occupant regardlessof the physical characteristics of the occupant.

This invention has especial advantages as an ofilce chair in that itinduces a correct posture of the occupant, without his knowledge as itgives a firm and positive back support while the occupant is in aworking position.

It is known that in occupying an omce chair, relaxation and change ofposition is often desired. This is manifested by leaning back againstthe 5 back rest. ,With the construction described, the back rest yieldsrearwardly under the pressure of such leaning action. When the pressureis discontinued, the back rest returns to its normal position. Thus thetorso may swing back and forth 10 from the hips, exerting a stretchingand'contracting action on the abdominal muscles. This stretching andcontacting action serves to provide a gentle massage of the abdominalorgans that is indeed beneficial to the occupant. In this s way fatigueis greatly reduced and the working efliciency of the occupantconsiderably increased.

While in describing the invention, I have referreddn detail to the form,arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same :0

is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wishto be limited theretoexcept as may be specifically set forth in theappended claim.

r I claim as my invention:

A chair comprising a seat, a back for the seat. a pair of arms on eitherside of the seat and back. means for pivotally securing the back to thearms. adjusting means for securing the back in an adjusted positionabout the pivots on the arms, 30 means for pivotally securing the otherends of the arms to the seat at points toward the rear thereof and foradjusting the arms relative to the-seat, resilient devices, each securedat one end to the corresponding arm and at its other end adjustabl!connected at spaced points on the seat forwardly of the arm and meansincluded in the resilient devices for lengthening and shortening theresilient devices for adjustments intermediate the spaced points.

GLENN D. WOOD.

